R E V I E W

Emily Wilde's Compendium of Lost Tales

☆☆☆

Advanced Reader Copy graciously provided by Little Brown Book Group UK | Orbit via Netgalley

Similar to my review of the previous book in this series, I would say these stories are definitely not for everyone. Whilst they can be defined loosely as 'fantasy' due to the prevalence of faeries, the academic-journal/diary-entry style of the prose, combined with the formal language style of the 1900s often makes you forget the genre entirely, with your focus being on simply getting through it. Or rather, getting to the next important plot point - as these are few and far between.

Don't get me wrong, I love Emily's aloof, driven personality and its stark contrast with Wendell's endearingly indolent nature. Their relationship however, whilst now fully established, is never at the forefront of the narrative, with Emily being who she is, and all scenes of an intimate nature are sadly off-page and only briefly alluded to (a real shame if you ask me because I imagine it is one of the main reasons we have all stuck with this series).

Did I enjoy being reunited with Emily, Wendell and Shadow? Absolutely! Do I think this adventure could have been condensed into fewer, but more exciting journal entries? Potentially. I did take a few breaks whilst reading this as the writing is quite dry, and I was not convinced much would be missed if I simply skipped to the end. I didn't do this, though I did disregard all of the starred theory passages and felt my read wasn't worsened by this omission.

I was looking forward to this finale of the Emily Wilde trilogy, which was one of the best in recent years in my opinion. Unfortunately, however, I was disappointed. The first part of the book really dragged and I could hardly continue, then fortunately it kicked off and was saved by the skin of its teeth, but compared to the first two books, this third volume is really poor in both adventure and plot in general. If this is the way the author intends to continue, it is a relief that this is the last volume. Too bad really, Wendell and Emily were a really good couple. Maybe I'll just reread the first two volumes when I feel like it.

Apettavo con ansia questo finale della trilogia di emily Wilde, che é stata una delle migliori degli ultimi anni secondo me. Purtroppo peró sono rimasta delusa. La prima parte del libro si é proprio trascinata e non riuscivo quasi a continuare, poi fortunatamente ha preso il via e si é salvata per il rotto della cuffia, ma paragonato ai primi due libri, questo terzo volume é veramente povero sia di avventura che di trama in generale. Se questo é il modo in cui l'autrice intende proseguire é un sollievo che questo sia l'ultimo volume. Peccato davvero, Wendell ed Emily sono stati veramente una bella coppia. Magari mi rileggo solo i primi due volumi quando ne ho voglia.

I received from the Publisher an Advanced Digital Review Copy, in exchange for a honest review.

She's baaack!

This book starts where the previous book left off, with Emily, Wendell and shadow in faerie, on their way to claim the throne. As always, chaos happens and faerie stories provide the answers.

In Compendium of Lost Tales, the story (as far as I know) comes to it's conclusion. The stakes are higher, the plot is more action packed and there is less meandering. Emily's voice narrating the events is very much the same, and I adore it! More than in the previous books, she is very firmly the main character, and we see less (though still plenty) of Wendell and others.

For me, this book is probably the strongest of the series in terms of plot, and the weakest in terms of the lovely meandering vibes - they are all incredible, and which book you prefer is a matter of taste rather than quality.

Book 1 and 2 had been unread on my shelves for month when I got my hands on book 3, so I read the entire series in about a week. And I am so glad I did! I'm ridiculously impressed by how well these books work together as a series (apart from liking them individually). There is a very clear overarching structure, and book 3 is definitely the grand finale. I probably wouldn't have noticed this as much if I'd read them all a year apart, and it's given me a whole new appreciate for Fawcett as a writer!

A really good conclusion to a series I will almost certainly end up rereading more than once. My preorder of this one has been placed :)

Many thanks to Little, Brown Book Group & Netgalley for the ARC - I had an excellent time.

As cute as the others but slower - much slower. I love Emily and Wendell but my mind wandered more reading this installment. Solid, but a little too slow.

3.5.

Hello! Thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group I had the opportunity to read "Emily Wilde’s Compendium of Lost Tales" by Heather Fawcett, third volume in the series dedicated to the driadology scholar Emily Wilde that will be released on February 11, 2025.

After much research, (dis)adventures and much study (by Emily), finally Emily and Wendell have found the door that leads to his kingdom.
Returning to the kingdom is only the first step for Wendell, the stepmother who’s trying to kill him is still a problem. But Wendell has a secret weapon at his side, the wise Emily, who has found allies and, thanks to the help of books and stories, a way to defeat the queen.
Becoming the queen of a fairy kingdom means unlimited research opportunities and the possibility to tap directly into sources, but it also means saying goodbye to Cambridge, her office, and her books. Is Emily ready to change her life?
Moreover, if stories are the backbone of Faerie realms, does it mean that Wendell will end up like many kings before him, irrevocably changed by power?

What a wonderful read! Once again, Heather Fawcett transports us into a magical, romantic story full of adventures. I couldn’t close the book, too curious to find out how Emily would solve the situation, anxious to get to the happy ending and at the same time sad because it meant finishing a very sweet series, with adorable characters, rich in mystery and magic, in Academy and cozy to the bone.

Emily and Wendell are a power couple, perfect for each other because they complement and improve each other.
Wendell, as a faerie, thinks in peculiar ways, fortunately there is Emily that analyzes and studies every detail.
Emily, who no matter how great her love for Wendell and her desire to study his kingdom, feels unsuited to be its queen.
Wendell, who despite her stepmother and a kingdom to be conquered, always has Emily and her happiness at the top of his mind. When Emily least expects it, here is Wendell giving her something absolutely unexpected, but caring and perfect.
When Wendell tries to save his kingdom, here is Emily, with her theories and studies, finding the perfect story to solve the situation... and the others that may arise.

I loved every single page of this book, every note and explanation.
I don’t know if there will be other volumes in the series, even though the material would be there because I’m sure Emily will never stop writing in her diaries. I would read it for sure!

Can we sign a petition to get MORE and MORE books from this series? PLEASE?! I'm so sad it's over. This book DE-LI-VERS.

If you think the author might be out of ideas, you're WRONG. Heather Fawcett is incredibly creative! The Silva Lupi realm is interesting, I absolutely adore Emily and Wendell's relationship, the new characters add fresh perspectives to the story, and you'll love the presence of beloved characters from the previous books again.

I'll miss Shadow, Snowbell, and Poe. OH POE! I hope you'll laugh as much at his parts in this book as I did. 😂🥰

The book is the perfect closure. I'll miss this universe so much, what an incredible journey it’s been! 🧚‍♂🍵

- "I was thinking of you, Em. You were my first thought, as well as my last."

- "Have you not shaken a kingdom to its foundations, found a door to a distant otherland, overthrown a queen? Hand you the right storybook, and you are capable of anything."

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Wendell, now King of Faerie, and his new fiance, Emily, are going back to Faerie to reclaim his Kingdom. But the old Queen is still there and has caused a blight upon the land so it's up to Emily and Wendell to solve this as per their MO!

Let me get this out the way first....and I hate to say this....this book didn't quite have the draw of the other books but I am still in love with Emily and Wendell!

Now the great bits!

Firstly, Emily's dry wit made me laugh as per usual when it comes to Wendell.....'Wendell had gone back to staring at the door— savouring the moment, I suppose. I wondered if he would give a speech or something.'

Also Shadow has a new so-not-friend, Orga the murder cat!!! Fabulous!

Emily's character growth in this series has been immense and I loved seeing her totally give in to her feelings for Wendell and he gives her every freedom she needs - I love him and his needlework skills!

I don't know if this is the last book in this series but, not going to lie, I do hope that Ariadne takes over the reigns now and finds her Faerie Prince!

Another amazing journey with Emily Wilde through the world of faeries. I'm a fan since the first volume.

The third instalment of the Emily Wilde series is just as enchanting as the previous two books! I just adore this series due to how whimsical and charming the characters and atmosphere are— Heather Fawcett has just created one of the cosiest and most endearing fantasy series that I have ever had the privilege of reading!

I will say I didn’t love this one as much as the previous two because I found the beginning of this one a lot slower but also because I ADORE the audiobook narrated by Elle Potter and since this was an ebook, I definitely missed the way she elevates the story. However, I will be first in line to purchase the audiobook on release day to do a reread🙏🏻 her voice is exactly how I picture Emily in my head and I love the way she does Wendell’s voice too. They were my favourite part of this book and I wish we got a bit more of them, I felt like we got more of them apart than together which was a bummer since they’re finally a couple now. But I’m hoping for a fourth instalment 👀 I expected this to be a trilogy but the way the book ended gives me hope for me. I can totally see this saga going on for several more books because I can never truly tire of Emily and Wendell🫶🏻

I feel like this series is best experienced by reading all three books back to back. I read books one and two in quick succession and I feel like book three follows on so seamlessly from ‘Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands’ that the experience would be even more perfect if the series was read all at once. Certainly, I devoured each book voraciously and was utterly devastated to reach the end of this newest title and realise that there would be no more books in this trilogy…

This can be best described as light academia or cosy fantasy, with the caveat that there are some dark fae creatures throughout the series that add some light horror vibes. Indeed, ‘Emily Wilde’s Compendium of Lost Tales’ is set mostly in the fae realm and there is a fair mix of creepy faerie side characters and antagonists to really emphasise the delightfully creepy aura of the world. Add in some swashbuckling swordfighting and magical battles and you have page-turning action to add to the list of the book’s many virtues. All of the central characters are adorably loveable and I simply cherished following them on their three-book journey together.

My favourite volume in the trilogy is still ‘Emily Wilde's Encyclopedia of Faeries’ but, as insinuated above, I mostly consider the three books as one entity. Thus, if you liked the first two books, I very much struggle to see why you would be disappointed with this one.

These books would be perfect for any fans of Marie Brennan's ‘A Natural History of Dragons’, of Naomi Novik’s ‘Spinning Silver’ and ‘Uprooted’, or for fans of Susanna Clarke’s epic ‘Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell’ who are seeking a lighter, more whimsical and heartwarming take on the story.

I simply loved this series and will treasure it always! I already miss it…

Thank-you sincerely to both the publishers and Netgalley for gifting me a digital proof of the novel!

A perfectly whimsical conclusion to the light academia series about a scholar of folklore and the fae prince she loves. Emily Wilde has spent her entire life studying fairies but now she must embark on her most dangerous academic project yet: studying the inner workings of the faerie realm as its queen. Along with her former academic rival now finance she is immediately thrust into the deadly intrigue of the courts.

Here she finds a beautiful nightmare filled with scholarly treasures with which to document and avoid for survival. Emily has been obsessed with faerie stories her entire life but she feels just as out of place here as she did in the mortal world. With a deadly curse placed upon the land it will take all her fiancé’s magic and her knowledge of stories to unravel the mystery before they lose everything they hold dear.

It would seem our awkward professor feels just as out of touch in the faerie lands as she does the mortal world which is equally endearing as it is understanding. If one were to find themselves whisked away to become a fair queen it would be a dream come true and a waking nightmare attempting to navigate court politics and faerie tricks.

A book so endlessly enchanting and vividly descriptive that you’ll walk away half ensorcelled as if you truly had walked unknowingly through a faerie door. If only there was a way to stay there without the story ending but even so it was a perfectly enchanting ending.

𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐋𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞, 𝐁𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐩 (𝐎𝐫𝐛𝐢𝐭) 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐝𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐲 𝐯𝐢𝐚 𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐆𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐄𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐞'𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐮𝐦 𝐨𝐟 𝐋𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐛𝐲 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐅𝐚𝐰𝐜𝐞𝐭𝐭

A nice addition to this series. Always well written and fun with interesting characters, plot and setting. I always enjoy the notes in the books and love the whimsy
I found this better than book two and would read other things from this author

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc

I’m so sad this series is over😩 I love these characters and this world so much, I’m gonna need a few days to recover.

A fantastic ending to this trilogy, we got the return of some old favourite characters and a delightful plot of Wendell reclaiming his kingdom.

I’m so glad Shadow didn’t die because I did think this would happen, phew! 😮‍💨

Emily Wilde's Compendium of Lost Tales
4.5

This was my favourite book of the trilogy! It got into the plot straight away and it moved quickly. There was banter and affection between Emily and Wendell, more than I felt in the previous two books, even when they were apart because of the letters that Wendell sends.

I liked the plot and how it explored stories in the Fae world, and it played perfectly into Emily's skillset. It was good to see her continue her work as a scholar and embrace who she is. Everything wrapped up nicely and it was a fitting conclusion to the series.

Disclaimer: I received an Advance Reader Copy from NetGalley but this is my voluntary and honest review.